Mrs. Cathy Warner has been teaching character education here at North Ponotoc for 15 years. This is the only thing she has taught during her time here. According to Mrs. Cathy, Character Education is how we learn to be responsible, respectful, and kind. She said, "It's a moral compass for the direction we want to take our lives."

Mrs. Cathy also helps with the Veteran's Day program. She said she started a few years ago wanting to decorate the outside of the school to teach patriotism. Mrs. Cathy stated, "My husband and three sons serve in the military and I wanted to show them that we go all out here at NPE. We fly our flag high for our veterans." Mrs. Cathy and the rest of the rotation team have the intention of letting veterans know how special our school believe they are and the school is decorated inside and out for that reason.

A very important group of students Mrs. Cathy works with is the Viking Volunteers. She said she started this program about 9 or 10 years ago. The way she picks who will be in the group is by reading a paragraph they have written about why they want to be a Viking Volunteer. Sometimes she has so many wanting to be a part that she has to draw names because she tries to keep about 6 students. Some of the projects they do on campus are decorating the campus for all the holidays, decorating the hallways, yard work that needs to be done around the buildings, and working in the garden. They also try to give goodies to bus drivers and cafeteria ladies.

Mrs. Cathy is well known for her suckers that she makes and sells. She said the main reason she sells the suckers is to make money for the Viking Volunteers to be able to have things to work with. Some of the things that money goes towards are flowers, shrubs, mulch, trees, bricks, and many other items. She said the whole idea is for students and visitors to enjoy our campus and to know that we care about our school.

Along with all these amazing things Mrs. Cathy does with the students, she also wants to help many of the adults as well. Every Monday afternoon, Mrs. Cathy and a few other teachers lead a time of devotion with any teachers that would like to stay. She said they take time to thank God for praises that have happened. They spend time in prayer for the students and teachers at North Pontotoc. Anyone that wants to share a devotion has the opportunity to do that. According to Mrs. Cathy, this has been going on all year.

I asked Mrs. Cathy what her most memorable moment is at North Pontotoc and she replied, "The Veteran's Day Program is the most memorable time and special time."

Reporter: Mary Erin Patterson

Photograph: Trent Robbins

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